Windstream steps up copper theft battle in Oklahoma with $25K reward

Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN) is the latest service provider that's finding itself going toe-to-toe with thieves stealing copper wire from their poles.

The service provider now has to spend $25,000 to replace copper cabling in its Broken Arrow, Okla., market.

As seen with other telcos that have reported similar incidents, this theft interrupted wireless and traditional wireline voice calls, broadband access and E911 services.

Alex Lowder, Windstream's Oklahoma area manager, said in a Broken Arrow Ledger article that a rise in theft and replacement costs drove it offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person of the recent incident in Broken Arrow and any other area in the state.

The service provider said that it in other states where it has offered rewards it has helped flush out copper thieves.

While Windstream has--like fellow carriers AT&T (NYSE: T), CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), and Frontier (Nasdaq: FTR)--seen a rise in copper theft in recent years, it would not reveal how much theft it has seen across its serving territories.

For more:
- Channel Partners also has this article
- Broken Arrow Ledger has this article

Related articles:
Windstream Q1 2012 revenue slides 0.5%, but sees uptick in business services
AT&T ups reward for copper thieves in its Fresno County, Calif., market
BT gets RABIT on copper thieves' trail
West Va. Senate develops bill to curb copper theft